Under the cloud of the Winograd Committee report, the security cabinet agreed on Sunday to authorize the broadening of Israel Defense Forces operations in the Gaza Strip, so long as these were in keeping with the current policies. Adopting a vague stance, the cabinet postponed to next week further decisions on the nature of the army's offensive response to the Qassam rocket attacks on the Negev.

The cabinet asked the IDF to present it with plans for countering the terror threat from the Gaza Strip on a number of levels: the Qassam rocket attacks, the smuggling of weapons through tunnels from Sinai, and the growing strength of Hamas and other militant organizations.

Participants in Sunday's meeting said it was obvious that the tone and character of the deliberations had been affected by the Winograd report, which criticized the handling of the Second Lebanon War. They pointed to the detailed surveys and the better prepared agenda handled by National Security Council officials.

However, the same sources noted that an excessive number of options were offered some of which were described as unrealistic.

Toward the end of the four-hour meeting, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and senior IDF officers asked for instructions on the type of action that should be taken.

The cabinet decided to adopt a vague approach, under which the IDF could act against Qassam rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts and other forms of terrorist activities by militant Palestinian organizations. However, the IDF was told to depart from the current modus operandi only following specific authorization from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Peretz.

Peretz and senior IDF officers presented the various options available to Israel. Peretz did not seek authorization for a broad ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is opposed to a ground offensive at this stage especially since the army is not being offered a green light to carry out a long-term, continuous operation.

Currently, the army will be allowed a freer hand in two types of activities: operating along the border fence and targeting Qassam rocket crews.

In some instances the army will be allowed to carry out operations deeper in Palestinian territory. Currently, such activities are restricted to uncovering tunnels and securing areas where explosive devices have been identified.

Regarding the Qassam rocket crews, authorization will be given to target them at earlier stages of preparation. Currently, crews are targeted only when they are about to launch rockets. Authorization for targeting rocket crews at earlier stages will depend on whether an IDF operation would endanger the lives of Palestinian civilians near the militants.

Also, a process is expected to be approved for isolated assassinations of Islamic Jihad militants involved in Qassam rocket launches.

In recent months, Israel has not tried to carry out assassinations in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, three Qassam rockets were fired on Sunday morning from the Gaza Strip at the western Negev. One rocket started a blaze in a field of Kibbutz Or Haner. Firefighting units rushed to the area and contained the fire.

Earlier, IDF sources said that two rocket launches had been identified.

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sourcing.
Your simplistic view of international affairs is appalling.....and it is comical to see your contrived scenario of the end of Israel.
Way too much energy for a dim-wit to spend on affairs taking knowledge way above his pay-grade to understand.
Cheers.

"Maybe , just maybe, restrain and a political solution with international support is a better solution than all these military operations that lead nowhere?"
Your solution, if it were directed to, and received, all Palestinian factions, as well as to and by Israel, would obviously be the best one, and this is the solution our government has b een striving for.
But it takes two to tango.
Unilateral actions, as we have seen in the withdrawal from Gaza, are to no avail. It is only when all the major Palestinian factions are willing to subscribe to your solution - and I doubt that will happen in my lifetime - that there will be peace.

There is a fourth reason, the most important one:
incursions to Gaza and heavy bombings have been tried before with no tangible results. Occupying Gaza with a hostile population and one a half million refugees would require six times the amount of manpower Israel has available, and still it would be a constant blood bath.
Maybe , just maybe, restrain and a political solution with international support is a better solution than all these military operations that lead nowhere?

China and India do NOT care one bit about what happens to Israel as it has very little to offer either country. Both China (hardware) and India (software) are developing world-class technology capabilities equal to or better than Israel. The folks in Israel have no special ability to produce technology, no matter what Israelis think. The biggest need both China and India have is for energy to further expand their economies. Israel can not help with that problem BUT Israel's many, many enemies can. Both China and India are very pragmatic and will base any relationships on what is in it for them and Israel has very little to offer. As for Russia and China, they may not be the best of buddies, but they get along a lot better than Israel and the Arabs and neither is looking to start a cold war. Same situation between Pakistan and India where things are actually getting much cooler than hotter since both countries have decided that improving their countries comes before war.

There will be no ground operation which would be necessary, because the US is not approving it. One of the side effects of the Olmert-Livni fiasco, supported by Haaretz for a very long time and still today, is that the US considers Israel not as a strategic partner with these people in power. The Olmert troika is perhaps the first government with an official diploma of incompetence. The US will try to strike a deal with Iran, bolster the security of Saudi Arabia and leave Iraq. With this government of incompetence and perhaps even of corruption, Israel will be standing in the rain. The damage that has been inflicted by this runaway government glued to its seats, on Israel and her struggle for survival cannot be overestimated. It is already today a catastrophe.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz actually resides physically in Sderot, or merely owns a home there.
I just can't see him being stupid enough (or patriotic enough, if you will) to endanger his family by keeping them there.
But then, perhaps I credit him with too much intelligence (or too little patriotism).

I see three reasons for Israeli vagueness in regard to the security situation in Gaza, one old, the second fairly recent, the third new:
1) Israel's freedom of action is limited by outside factors. Historically, these have been the Soviet Union, the United States and the UN Security Council.
2) Israel's governments have been unstable since at least 1985, and this because of the proportional system of elections to the Knesset.
At present, no party has a majority, or even a significant plurality, unlike the early days of the State, when Mapai (today the Labor Pary) could command a large percentage of the vote.
3) The defense establishment itself is uncertain or unready as to what to do about Gaza.

According to Debka File, the US has told Olmert he is not allowed to defend Israel and do any incursions into GAZA. If true, we have now totally abdicated our sovereignty to another country who surely does not have our best interest in mind. Time to cut and run. We need to develop new defense ties with China and India and start trading military technology with them. The Chinese hate the Russians and the Indians hate the Muslim/Pakistanis etc. Time to broaden our defense base and stop listening to the US re our security policy.

By refusing to take the appropriate action, the Knesset is refusing to protect us from the terrorists who operate with impunity 2 kilometers from my home. I invite all of these cowards to come and see our children scattering in all directions in absolute terror when the alarm is sounded, warning us to take shelter because yet another Kassam is on its way. We have no shelters, and the local primary- and high schools are only partially protected . . . the long-term psychological effect on future generations is devastating and can already be seen. When will Peretz and Olmert stop dancing to the Americans' tune and start defending their citizens? SIX YEARS! ENOUGH!

and it always has been, atleast the last decades. Vagueness about borders. Vagueness about settlementpolicy, vagueness about its willingness to make consessions...So vagueness regarding Gaza is really not that strange. After all vagueness can go every direction.

Its the same old story again. The IDF knows exactly what has to be done to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza, but has its hands tied by the politicians ie. Olmert and Peretz. When will Israel get rid of these two clowns?

The better only if replaced by Jewish settlers from Gush Katif , Hebron , Homesh who fear G'D and walk in his Statues and Ordinances ,
This Kadima Gov't policies and its IDF top brass puppets all are clearly holdin' hostage South Israel's Jewish citizenry and Jewish cities ,
to considerations that have no whatsoever weight in the balance of Israel's Jewish citizenry and Jewish cities welfare , pursuit of happiness , protection ect...
They rather consider weightless Int'l considerations that anyway don't appease arabs quench for blood with the bottomless well of the Int'l palpable hatred against the jews and their Jewish State ,
Instead of Leviticus Chapter 26 , 7 . And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
This Kadima Gov't policies and its IDF top brass puppets have invited against them and us Leviticus Chapter 26 ,16 , I also will do this unto you: I will appoint terror over you,... and Leviticus Chapter 26 , 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass.
" break the pride of your power;" , may not only refer to the loss of Israel's deterrence , and the extortion threats thru kidnapped soldiers consequences , but also Al Aqsa , Islam occupation of Jewish Temple Mount ,
As for "your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass , " , may not only refer to lack of rain but also may refer to the material that these arabs quassams rockets are made of with their daily fallin' on Israel's South , and the katyushas on Israe's North from Leb war 2 ,
This 2005 gaza disengagement from Homesh , Gush Katif ect... and Gaza smugglin' issue with these daily arabs quassams rockets may have this Kadima Gov't policies be seen contrary to Leviticus Chapter 25 , 43 . Thou shalt not rule over him (Israel) with rigour; but shalt fear thy God." ,
This Kadima Gov't hold to these withdrawal policies may be seen as failed , stubborn with a serious lack of judgement , responsibility , prudence and may indicate an uncircumcised heart ,

What exactly did the cabinet approve?? i'm not quite clear. I just hope IDF commanders take this to mean that they will respond against each rocket attack. Anything less would be useless. Time for all PALs to feel the pain that those in sderot feel.
I wnat nightly low alt overflights over gaza. Wake everyone up each night multiple times with sonic booms. No one sleeps in gaza.

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